Shifted Cinema
Member
A few months ago Shifted Cinema was contacted by an European multirotor airframe manufacture emerging into the U.S. marketplace - Airborne Mechatronics out of Estonia. They build some truly professional grade equipment and while they're new to the market, they're no stranger to design and the requirements of sUAS for video and technical or military applications. SC and Airborne got to talking and we told them a number of ideas that we'd like to see on a high end heavylift copter for professional filming. Turns out they already had solutions for a large number of those requests and began working on many of the others. They want their designs to be the best they can be and that effort shows through in their products.
First, if you want a little more info on us at Shifted, check out www.shiftedcinema.com.
Fast forward a couple months and we're nearly ready to maiden our Heavylift KX-8 octocopter. Officially the latest addition to our fleet at SC, it's a welcome addition of lifting capacity, redundancy, and increased on-location efficiency. From travel case to flying, the KX-8 can be prepped in minutes.
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Airborne has done a nice job of integrating components to reduce parts count, while also creating an effective modular system to aid in rapid transportation and ease of maintenance and on-set assembly. They have sacrificed very little, if any, structural rigidity in their quest to creating a rapid teardown/setup machine.
The KX-8 has two separate fully isolated damping systems that work together. 36 Airborne Vibration Isolators make up the 4 separate layers of protection from both high frequency micro-vibrations and larger amplitude, low frequency bumps and jolts. Both the primary and secondary damping systems 2 layer full cages, which yields the ability to use softer durometer damping material spaced out in a system that offers both stability and energy absorption.
The primary damping system is built into the main frame and isolates all of the flight electronics from direct resonance from the motors and props. The batteries are also isolated within the primary damping system, adding a great deal of inertia to help damp both the electronics and camera gimbal.
The secondary damping system mounts to the landing gear module, which mounts to the primary damping system. The secondary damping system is another full cage with two full layers of isolation, and is already fully isolated from the motor booms
The gimbal mounting plate is rigid 4mm G10 to help absorb the remaining micro-vibrations that manage to sneak past all the isolation layer and has a 4 way slot mounting system that should be compatible with most gimbals on the market. In this pic I have a Freefly Toad In the Hole mounted up.
The entire center airframe is extremely rigid. The load bearing carbon frame plates are all 4mm and have minimal surface dimensions to reduce weight. The battery and electronics mounting plates are rigid 2mm CF to reduce weight where the loading allows without sacrificing necessary rigidity.
Carbon Fiber sheet and tubes are produced in Germany and cut in-house at Airborne in Estonia with their own CNC router. The fit, finish, and form are all very clean. All holes aligned flawlessly without the all-too-common enlargement process that we encounter with lower grade manufacturing.
The CF plates are are super rigid layup, both laterally and torsionally stiff, 4mm carbon.
Technical details on the CF plates - “This carbon plate with a bidirectional fiber alignment of 0/90* has a fiber volume of approx. 60%. The plate is composed of carbon fabric twill 2/2. It has been cured at ~120*C via thermo pressure proceeding. The surface is smooth and shows the typical carbon structure. The special properties are a high flexural strength as well as high torsion and impact-resistance."
The purpose built electronic mounting trays make wiring and electronics layout a much simpler task, especially for important details like placing the IMU square to the airframe and not covering the barometer vent holes.
The battery connector housing is clean and professional, and makes the battery connect/disconnect process a one-hand job, which helps if you’re quickly multi-tasking onsite (disclaimer - always pay extra close attention to the details while multitasking with your copter, you could do something stupid :thumbup: )
Our airframe came wired with XT90 connectors, but all our flight packs use EC5's so I swapped over and used a bit of 3M Outdoor Mounting Tape to help the EC5’s fit firmly in the XT90 frame housing. The connector housing allows for up to 3 connectors to be used, or only 1 if that's your style.
Airborne does offer a connector housing designed specifically for the EC5 connector. If you’re one of us blue connector folk, you can specify your preference when you order.
3D printed parts are done in the Netherlands. Fit and finish on the 3D parts are damn nice, they don’t detract from the overall quality of the kit. Occasionally I’m unsure if a plastic part on the KX-8 is printed or CNC’ed.
The boom quick-release system is truly well designed. It’s efficient, rigid, precise, and repeatable. Polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic is used for the quick release boom clamps, boom caps, and female boom receiver cups/bullet connector housings.
POM is very similar to Delrin, it’s self lubricating and extremely rigid and is an excellent material choice for the boom clamps. Hundreds of boom installations and removals wont leave a scratch in the carbon. The fit and finish for any quick release boom system is critical, and from what we've seen, these boom clamps will hold their form and maintain rigidity over many hours of operation and throughout the rigors of world travel. We put our equipment through it’s paces, so time will have to tell!
“Polyoxymethylene, also known as acetal, polyacetal and polyformaldehyde, is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction and excellent dimensional stability. Chemical formula (CH20)n.”
POM and aluminum components are manufactured in Estonia by a high-grade major CNC factory using HAAS machines (look em up, they’re badass). The tolerances and fit/finish on the KX8 are rarely found on the likes of RC equipment.
The bullet connector alignment is fixed and guides the booms into the exact same position with every installation and removal, making for a seamless and precision on-set assembly process.
2mm bullet connectors are built into the motor bullet housings to provide a quick release power source for your nav LEDs.
Motor mounts are single piece units and are perfectly machined to just barely contact each other and provide ideal, equal clamping pressure on the carbon boom. The compression also holds the boom cap in place, which provides for excellent motor wire routing and protection.
Fiberglass canopy weather covers are manufactured in-house at Airborne in Estonia. Ours weighs in at 216.5g. It’s a pretty thin and well crafted layup, 216g seems reasonable considering the weather protection it offers. A great tool for when you need it and gives your rig a unique look, for sure! I’m know we’ll find the canopy cover to be a nice feature.
Airborne has a keen eye for innovation and attention to the finest details. Those two qualities alone add up to a very nice airframe that is well beyond your average plate/clamp/boom multirotor frame design.
We’re excited at SC to be working with Airborne’s latest machine and to put it to the test around the world on film projects. Tune into this thread as we get our KX-8 buttoned up and ready for flight, it's not far off! Just need to finish wiring a couple booms, mount the nav LEDs, and get the electronics set up. We will also be sharing some build tips and tricks to show how to get the most out of the KX-8 helicopter.
Happy flying,
SC
First, if you want a little more info on us at Shifted, check out www.shiftedcinema.com.
Fast forward a couple months and we're nearly ready to maiden our Heavylift KX-8 octocopter. Officially the latest addition to our fleet at SC, it's a welcome addition of lifting capacity, redundancy, and increased on-location efficiency. From travel case to flying, the KX-8 can be prepped in minutes.
Airborne has done a nice job of integrating components to reduce parts count, while also creating an effective modular system to aid in rapid transportation and ease of maintenance and on-set assembly. They have sacrificed very little, if any, structural rigidity in their quest to creating a rapid teardown/setup machine.
The KX-8 has two separate fully isolated damping systems that work together. 36 Airborne Vibration Isolators make up the 4 separate layers of protection from both high frequency micro-vibrations and larger amplitude, low frequency bumps and jolts. Both the primary and secondary damping systems 2 layer full cages, which yields the ability to use softer durometer damping material spaced out in a system that offers both stability and energy absorption.
The primary damping system is built into the main frame and isolates all of the flight electronics from direct resonance from the motors and props. The batteries are also isolated within the primary damping system, adding a great deal of inertia to help damp both the electronics and camera gimbal.
The secondary damping system mounts to the landing gear module, which mounts to the primary damping system. The secondary damping system is another full cage with two full layers of isolation, and is already fully isolated from the motor booms
The gimbal mounting plate is rigid 4mm G10 to help absorb the remaining micro-vibrations that manage to sneak past all the isolation layer and has a 4 way slot mounting system that should be compatible with most gimbals on the market. In this pic I have a Freefly Toad In the Hole mounted up.
The entire center airframe is extremely rigid. The load bearing carbon frame plates are all 4mm and have minimal surface dimensions to reduce weight. The battery and electronics mounting plates are rigid 2mm CF to reduce weight where the loading allows without sacrificing necessary rigidity.
Carbon Fiber sheet and tubes are produced in Germany and cut in-house at Airborne in Estonia with their own CNC router. The fit, finish, and form are all very clean. All holes aligned flawlessly without the all-too-common enlargement process that we encounter with lower grade manufacturing.
The CF plates are are super rigid layup, both laterally and torsionally stiff, 4mm carbon.
Technical details on the CF plates - “This carbon plate with a bidirectional fiber alignment of 0/90* has a fiber volume of approx. 60%. The plate is composed of carbon fabric twill 2/2. It has been cured at ~120*C via thermo pressure proceeding. The surface is smooth and shows the typical carbon structure. The special properties are a high flexural strength as well as high torsion and impact-resistance."
The purpose built electronic mounting trays make wiring and electronics layout a much simpler task, especially for important details like placing the IMU square to the airframe and not covering the barometer vent holes.
The battery connector housing is clean and professional, and makes the battery connect/disconnect process a one-hand job, which helps if you’re quickly multi-tasking onsite (disclaimer - always pay extra close attention to the details while multitasking with your copter, you could do something stupid :thumbup: )
Our airframe came wired with XT90 connectors, but all our flight packs use EC5's so I swapped over and used a bit of 3M Outdoor Mounting Tape to help the EC5’s fit firmly in the XT90 frame housing. The connector housing allows for up to 3 connectors to be used, or only 1 if that's your style.
Airborne does offer a connector housing designed specifically for the EC5 connector. If you’re one of us blue connector folk, you can specify your preference when you order.
3D printed parts are done in the Netherlands. Fit and finish on the 3D parts are damn nice, they don’t detract from the overall quality of the kit. Occasionally I’m unsure if a plastic part on the KX-8 is printed or CNC’ed.
The boom quick-release system is truly well designed. It’s efficient, rigid, precise, and repeatable. Polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic is used for the quick release boom clamps, boom caps, and female boom receiver cups/bullet connector housings.
POM is very similar to Delrin, it’s self lubricating and extremely rigid and is an excellent material choice for the boom clamps. Hundreds of boom installations and removals wont leave a scratch in the carbon. The fit and finish for any quick release boom system is critical, and from what we've seen, these boom clamps will hold their form and maintain rigidity over many hours of operation and throughout the rigors of world travel. We put our equipment through it’s paces, so time will have to tell!
“Polyoxymethylene, also known as acetal, polyacetal and polyformaldehyde, is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction and excellent dimensional stability. Chemical formula (CH20)n.”
POM and aluminum components are manufactured in Estonia by a high-grade major CNC factory using HAAS machines (look em up, they’re badass). The tolerances and fit/finish on the KX8 are rarely found on the likes of RC equipment.
The bullet connector alignment is fixed and guides the booms into the exact same position with every installation and removal, making for a seamless and precision on-set assembly process.
2mm bullet connectors are built into the motor bullet housings to provide a quick release power source for your nav LEDs.
Motor mounts are single piece units and are perfectly machined to just barely contact each other and provide ideal, equal clamping pressure on the carbon boom. The compression also holds the boom cap in place, which provides for excellent motor wire routing and protection.
Fiberglass canopy weather covers are manufactured in-house at Airborne in Estonia. Ours weighs in at 216.5g. It’s a pretty thin and well crafted layup, 216g seems reasonable considering the weather protection it offers. A great tool for when you need it and gives your rig a unique look, for sure! I’m know we’ll find the canopy cover to be a nice feature.
Airborne has a keen eye for innovation and attention to the finest details. Those two qualities alone add up to a very nice airframe that is well beyond your average plate/clamp/boom multirotor frame design.
We’re excited at SC to be working with Airborne’s latest machine and to put it to the test around the world on film projects. Tune into this thread as we get our KX-8 buttoned up and ready for flight, it's not far off! Just need to finish wiring a couple booms, mount the nav LEDs, and get the electronics set up. We will also be sharing some build tips and tricks to show how to get the most out of the KX-8 helicopter.
Happy flying,
SC
